Good Literature Review On World Literature: Unit Two Test Questions

1. In "Verses upon the Burning of Our House", Anne Bradstreet reveals religious convictions that help her cope with the tragedy caused by her house burning down. One of the Puritan beliefs is that happiness is to be found through a direct relationship with "God in Heaven", as opposed to the enjoyment of earthly comforts. The Massachusetts Bay Colony's Puritans were strong believers in the negation of earthly comforts in favor of that other world -- a union with God. Clearly, the "Verses" poem expresses Bradstreet's belief that God's will is much more important than her will, thereby helping her cope with feelings of loss and grief. On a larger scale, the Puritan settlers of the Colony were anchored by their belief in an afterlife, helping them endure the hardships of life in the wilderness of New England.
2. Danforth's subject matter consists mainly of weather forecasts, interspersed with philosophical thought and religious themes. They also have the ring of very short fables. They have a sort of sing-song rhyme structure, which makes them somewhat entertaining. There are many allusions to native wildlife, such as birds, bees, and chickens. Entertaining literature is less factual in its details, and mostly fictional. However, Danforth's mostly-informative verse deals with topics such as the weather and religious beliefs. His verse seems to be an attempt to both inform, and to a lesser degree, entertain his readers.
3. The early colonists were primarily concerned with survival, surviving both the harsh elements but surviving with their faith intact as well. In their literature, they are most concerned with the expression of their devotion to God, as well as the acknowledgment of the presence of God's will in their daily lives. Also, the pillars of Puritanism, sin and redemption, were devoutly recognized in their writings. These themes are considerably less concerned with the world around them, when compared to other works from other regions, and more concerned with an eternal afterlife with God -- a key aspect of the Puritan belief system. The concerns of the Puritan colonists show that their primary concerns were the recognition of God's will -- or Divine plan -- as being much more integral to a spiritual life than the attainment of mere material success. However, the austerity of their concerns reveal a very strict, unyielding society -- one that looked to God to help them cope, in place of change and adaptability.